Civil Rights Commission to Examine Discrimination Against Native Americans in Border Towns

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has assembled a panel of experts to discuss the relations between Native Americans and border town residents and officials, specifically, the nature and status of discrimination Native Americans may face in communities contiguous with American Indian reservations. The Commission will examine the extent of discrimination faced by Native Americans in border towns today; whether the situation currently faced by Native Americans is different from that which they faced in previous years; and the efforts Native Americans and other border town residents and officials have taken to improve relations and reduce incidents of discrimination.

The speakers will include Frank Bibeau, Attorney, Anishinabe Legal Services; Alvin Windy Boy, Sr., former Chairman, Chippewa-Cree Tribe, Rocky Boy's Reservation; Stephen Pevar, Senior Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union, Connecticut; James Runnels, Chief of Police, City of Farmington, New Mexico; Barry D. Simpson, Superintendent, Bishop Union Elementary School District; and Duane H. Yazzie, President, Shiprock Chapter, Navajo Nation.

What: Meeting of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, an independent, bipartisan agency charged with monitoring and protecting civil rights

When: Friday, November 9, 2007, 9:30 a.m.

Where: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 624 Ninth Street NW, Room 540 Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency charged with monitoring federal civil rights enforcement. Members include Chairman Gerald A. Reynolds, Vice Chairman Abigail Thernstrom, and Commissioners Jennifer C. Braceras, Gail Heriot, Peter N. Kirsanow, Arlan D. Melendez, Ashley L. Taylor, Jr., and Michael Yaki. Kenneth L. Marcus is Staff Director. Commission meetings are open to the media and general public.